A Modern Chronicle -- Volume 02

and in it a single passenger. And suddenly it occurred to her that the passenger must be Peter, for Mrs. Holt had

an unchanged Peter came to her with a shock of surprise. So much, in less than a year, had happened to Honora! And the sight of him, a

which eluded exact definition. It had never occurred to her, until now, when she saw him out of the element with which she had always associated him, that Peter Erwin had a personality. That personality was a mixture of simplicity and self-respect and-common sense. And as Honora listened to his cheerful voice, she perceived t

of strife, lost something of its value. To look at Peter was to wonder whether there could be such a thing as a well-groomed combatant; and until to-day she had never thought of Peter as a combatant. The s

id, as she took his hand. "How d

e, so they chose me. Incidentally," he added, smi

lost," said Howard

as on the bench at the edge of the wood." She turned a

that," he declared, "if

with us," Joshua put in with unusual graciousnes

said Peter, simply, gazing off across the lawn. "Un

u must see this wonderful place.

away by himself, something she

runabout?" suggeste

thank

in would rather w

must tell me all

y good grace, and gave no evidence of jeal

d Spence. We're members of the Exchange, so you won't have any trou

thanke

of Howard Spence, until suddenly she remembered that her secret was still her own, that Peter had as yet no particular rea

hat?" h

colo

which was the result of the events of an extraordinary day, not yet ended. She knew that it would have been wiser not to have men

at her and sh

is to become of poor old

week," Honora cried. "I w

he said incredulously,

ark and-

of sadness, was in his eyes. She was conscious of a slight resentment. Was there, in fact, no change in her as the result of the events of those momentous ten months since she had seen him? And rather than a tolerance in which there was neither antagonism

Uncle Tom and Aun

ould return, but they did not wish to curtail her

coloure

ought to go to

er determination to leave Sil

see you, Honora," he said. "

countable impulse promp

missed me

that he was profoundly affected

erribly. It seems so strange seeing you here," she went on hurriedly. "There are so m

he firm had to

that Uncle Tom had predicted it one day, and that it was an honour. "I never knew any one so secretive about th

ter; "it sounds very grand, doesn't

d reproachfully. "When I go back to the house I intend to tel

r la

few years before yo

-lilies on their floating green pads, -through the woods, and when the shadows were lengthening came out at the little summer-house over the valley of Silver Brook-the scene of that first memorable encounter with the Vicomte. At the sight of

n this day of days when she had definitely cast the die of life, when she had chosen her path, aroused this strange emotion. Why had she never felt it before? She had thought his face homely-now it seemed to shine with a transfiguring

t length fr

derful!"

u cared for natur

t out his hand and drew her, unre

rouble, Honor

ried, "oh, no,

odd that I should have

vely, "particularly whe

lf why I came. I am a ma

on an

, avoiding the troubled, s

aken a train that leaves New York at noon; but I had a feeling this morning,

ized Peter with such words on his lips. "I am happy-indeed I am. On

h of me," he declared. "And

It has given me a sense of-of security. That

turned to her, "Honora, I have loved you for many years," he said. "You were too young for me to speak of it. I did not intend to speak of it when I came here to-day. For many years I have hoped that some day you might be my wife. My one fear

wn at her. But she did

you great wealth, but I say with confidence that I can offer you something better, something surer. I

rs,-tears, he remembered afterwa

ish I could! I have always-w

can

ook he

et-not even Aunt Mary.

en

, and she did not dare to loo

ness. And whatever may, come to you I hope that you will remember that I am you

f her tears she seemed to see his soul shining in his eyes. The ton

nced at h

go back to the house-my train goes at seven. C

d, faintly perceptible thr

ogize for my depar

s gone. And presently, in a little clearing far